Historically, IRA or 401k accounts have been widely adopted in the US – almost all domestic employers offer such benefits and US citizens are always eligible to self fund IRA accounts for example. With cryptos being one of the hottest instruments in 2018, investors and retirees have looked towards these for exposure.

Up until now cryptocurrency exposure in IRAs has been somewhat limited. Most investors traditionally opt for more conservative instruments rather than extremely volatile cryptos, however this has not stopped interest in such funding. IRA Bitcoin LLC has launched a new solution for investors seeking to purchase and hold cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum and Ripple.

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“People are learning about the potential future growth of alternative currency and the unique advantages available when holding these assets in tax-advantaged retirement accounts, explained Travis Parker, COO of IRA Bitcoin LLC.

The decision helps capture exposure to all the largest cap cryptos. The group is also leveraging strategic partnerships with a number of highly rated IRA custodians, cryptocurrency exchanges and secure digital wallet providers.

Overall IRA Bitcoin’s goal was to create a simple, safe, and IRS-approved process for facilitating fund transfers, executing transactions, settlement and account reporting. “We have seen tremendous investor interest over the past several months as the dramatic rise of cryptocurrencies has generated widespread media attention,” he added.

In particular, most IRA custodians are banks and broker-dealers that limit the holdings in IRA accounts to select stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and CDs. However, a self-directed IRA held by a trustee or custodian that permits investment in a broader set of assets than is permitted by most IRA custodians – this includes Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, and Ripple.

According to Mr. Parker: “For maximum security and to allow this investment to be IRA eligible our approved IRA Custodian maintains access to the private key of your digital wallet. Our proprietary system allows you to cash out your positions or cross purchase other cryptocurrencies easily and securely, allowing the account to be fully managed at your discretion while simultaneously allowing the IRA custodian necessary oversight of your IRA account.”